This right here!!! This is why I STAYED a photographer. I have lost my passion/fire/inspiration, whatever you wanna call it, for this career a few times over the years. The thing that re-ignites my love for this work time and time again, is family sessions. Every single time. They remind me of why I first started photography – as a kid I loved capturing my family together. My why is rooted in that first love of photographing my family. Now I have kids of my own, and my passion for capturing families has grown tenfold.
What means most to you in this life? Your cozy home you built yourselves? Maybe it’s your job, or business? Nope, it’s your family, and I can see and capture that love so vividly during family sessions. It completely overflows my cup and I leave family sessions SO excited about my work – and so grateful for my own little family at home.
These days are fleeting – incredibly precious and fleeting. We will never regret prioritizing these days with them while they’re little, and that means capturing moments that are NOT on a phone. You deserve to look back at these days with them for years to come. You deserve to be IN the photos yourself. If you’re anything like me, then you’re probably already somehow nostalgic even though you’re in the thick of it. Imagine how we’ll feel about these days in 10 years? Or even 30? It’s heart wrenching to think about our babies not being little anymore, but we can take heart in knowing we can document this season for them, and for ourselves.
That’s my heart going into each family session. Each family is different. Every family is incredibly special and has their own unique sense of humor, play, and intimacy. I prompt you and your little loves throughout the entire session, and the kids run the show. This allows me to capture moments that are filled to the brim with real life emotion and heart – the way it felt in the moment for you. The way it feels loving them and playing with them everyday. Absolutely priceless. I also make sure to get those stunning “everyone look at me!” photos for your Christmas cards, framed heirloom prints to gift and to hang. These usually take about 4-5 minutes. The rest of the session is incredibly relaxed and spent throwing rocks into the water, playing tag, tossing baby around, or making cookies in your home.
Here is more info on what it’s like to work with me.
The Steyer family and I met up at the beach in our gorgeous hamlet by the sea, in Homer Alaska. They took a few notes from my what to wear guide that I send out, and Amanda created the perfect windy beach vibe for her family. We walked down to the water together and chatted about our toddlers and their trip to Alaska. The kids loved watching the boats zoom by every minute or two, and collected some rocks. After getting a few photos with the stunning mountains and ocean behind them, we ventured down the beach to the piers.
The kids looked for sea stars and snuggled for a minute (so stinkin’ sweet), then we moved on to the wildflower path just a five minute drive away. The pathway on the Homer Spit is BLOOMING with lupines during most of June into early July. I take full advantage of it with every client that will let me! There are endless unique spots for photos on this path, but all of them are surrounded by purple lupines and greenery! The Steyer babies had such a sweet time picking flowers for their mama and running along the pathway. At one point they were giggling at their daddy putting one in their mama’s hair. This is about the time I felt like my heart was going to explode. Filled to the brim!
The Steyer family was so down to earth and full of love for each other. These were their first family photos together. I’m honored to have gotten to peek into their little bubble and capture just an hour of them being a silly, close-knit, loving family.
I’d love to document your family in whatever season you’re in. Reach out here to get started. 🙂
Here's the thing, sometimes certain outfits that look great in real life can be suuuuuper distracting in photos. Also, if you're not comfortable in your clothes, you're going to look uncomfortable in all of the photos. The photos will turn out so incredible if you are physically comfortable in the clothes you are wearing, as well as feeling like hot stuff.
We don't want a clashing color with your skin tone, or a brightly reflecting color on your partners face in all the photos — lemme give you a little run down on what works, and what doesn't work, so we can get the best possible photos together.
Bring some options!
Bring 3-4 outfit options per person so we can mix and match them to look best with each location and lighting.
For families, bring 2 outfit options per person that can be mixed/matched.
I typically have my clients change for each different location we go to or change of scenery. We do this by having you guys change in either a public bathroom if we're near a park or beach, or change in the car!
If you don't think you'll be able to change in the car, or don't want to, then feel free to send me photos of the outfits in advance so I can help make sure you get the best photos possible!
This is so important - PLEASE take creative freedom with your outfits. Like these guys brought some matching vests their friend made for them years ago, and it was freaking cute. I want you to look like YOU. Just remember to always always choose comfort over looks. Is there a jean jacket you've covered in patches together? Bring it. Is there an outfit you've always thought he looks extra good in? Bring that bad jackson. A big way to make these photos that much more sentimental for you in the future, is your outfits. Let's make these photos special — let's make them you.
Movement can create ENERGY. Movement is so so important in creating authentic and timeless photos together. Most of my prompts and posing style is movement based and wearing materials and styles that move with you will make your photos SO much better. Anything that can show movement or catch wind is something I encourage all my clients to incorporate into their outfits. I LOVE having movement in my work in any way that I can since it adds energy to images. The stiffer the material, the less you'll be able to move, meaning you'll probably be a lot less comfortable! Remember, comfort > looks.
Okay this is such an important one!
Stay away from colors that can cast unnatural colors onto your partner’s skin. This happens from light reflecting and bouncing off of their clothing onto the other person, or onto the bottom of your own neck/chin. These colors are typically fluorescents, but specifically pink, bright red, orange, and yellow will cast the strongest. I recommend you lean towards neutrals and muted colors as they are what will be the most timeless and offer minimal distraction.
Choose colors that are complimentary to your skin tones. Usually, unless you have an olive skin tone or darker skin, steer clear of reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks for the most part.
I love colors — there is so much inspiration to pull from colors to create more playful or interesting shots, so definitely don't be afraid to bring a more colorful option!
Okay let's talk about matching.
Unless they are meaningful to you in some way, don't go matchy matchy with the same color shirt or outfits— this will blend you two together a bit
like it does in this photo.
Choose complimentary colors, not identical.
For me, I’m always aiming to keep the focus on your faces, since my style is so heavily based on emotion and storytelling.
Big, distracting chunky patterns are usually not gonna make for timeless and emotion driven images. I recommend clients stay away from thick patterns since they can be super distracting especially from your faces. I love patterns, but typically only shoot them if they’re subtle and not distracting.
Good example : Flannels, this isn't too much of a pattern that it distracts from faces or emotion.
Bad example : Chevron or thick striped sweaters. Makes someone look like a human barcode.
The first photo is totally fine with just the one pattern on her whole outfit, but when we combined three different patterns / designs, it was way too busy and took away from her beautiful face!
For these family photos, I would've gone with just ONE person wearing a pattern, instead of both the dad and son.
There's just the one pattern of the blanket going on here with the mama, so it's much easier to focus on their faces!
I always encourage accessories!
I love when you guys bring hats, sunglasses, scarves, jewelry, etc because it adds more interest to the outfits rather than being too plain. It's easy to mix and match accessories when you have a neutral outfit as a base.
The only accessory I have clients take off are watches.
Props. I am a huge fan.
I highly encourage meaningful props like your dog, a picnic, an old truck, anything that helps represent the phase of life you're in.
Little things that make a giant difference!
Be sure to iron your clothes so big huge wrinkles aren’t a distraction. This is something I can't touch up in editing, it will always end up looking wonky - trust me.
If it’s going to be cold, opt for warmer materials that hold in heat like flannel or wool. Bring layers in this scenario so we can have more options to play with!
If it’s going to be hot, opt for cooler materials that can breathe like linen.
For maternity sessions, it's totally up to you if you want to capture that adorable belly unhindered by clothes! These usually end up being my favorites of maternity sessions. A cute and simple way to grab a few belly shots is to wear a bralette under your clothes and bring a jacket or cardigan to throw on for any walking we do.
Heels are 99% of the time going to be a bad idea unless you're really good at walking in them. I just recommend to be sure to wear shoes that are comfortable!
Should you get your hair and makeup done? Some do and some don’t! I encourage you to do whatever is going to make you feel your very best. Some people feel the most like themselves with messy hair and no makeup, and some feel super confident all glammed up. Whatever floats your boat!
What about home sessions?
Please still set aside 3-4 outfits, or if we're doing a family session get out 1-2 outfits! Choose a space in your home that has the most natural light, and throw everything in a closet or do a quick clean up of the area, and open up those curtains! No need to go crazy and dust every surface. Just throw the toys in the kids' room, and clear the couch off!
Do we bring the outfits to every location?
They all stay in the car trunk. I like to keep each location/scene limited to one outfit. If we are hopping out of the car to shoot somewhere for 15 minutes then I’ll have them leave everything in the car.
Well, there you have it!
PLEASE feel free to ask questions, create a Pinterest board with me, or send pictures of your outfits beforehand! I am here to help with anything I can to make this part of getting photos taken easy!
YOU'VE GOT THIS.
Mary McKinley Photography
Homer, Alaska
907.435.1303
marymckinleyphoto@gmail.com
Mary McKinley is a wedding and family photographer based in Homer, Alaska. Servicing the local area of Homer and the Kenai Peninsula. Often provides services for weddings across the state of Alaska, the U.S. and worldwide.
Mary McKinley Photography
Homer, Alaska
907.435.1303
marymckinleyphoto@gmail.com